| Yes, believe it or not there are still a few secrets not | | | | sailboat. I asked an older sailor at a boating show, how |
| unearthed for the dark arts of buying a digital camera. | | | | long it would take me to learn how to sail. His answer |
| Sure, you could just walk into your favorite Big Bulk | | | | was very succinct, but has stuck with me to this day, |
| Barn Of Electronic Gadgets store, ask the clerk what | | | | tens years later and nine years of it owning my own |
| camera you should buy, and let them do all the thinking | | | | sailboat. He said "You can learn to sail in a day . . . . but |
| for you. I'm sure they'll recommend the best camera | | | | to get good at it, you'll spend a lifetime learning". |
| for you, the puts the best commission for them into | | | | Photography is much the same way. Anyone can pick |
| their pocket. Or perhaps, you'll stumble across a | | | | up a camera and snap a few photos. But to take |
| genuinely conscientious sales clerk, that will | | | | really good photographs consistently, you'll spend your |
| recommend the perfect camera for you that actually | | | | life getting good at it. |
| comes in $50 under your budget. It could happen, but | | | | One of the keys to photography (or sailing), is to get |
| what's the fun in that. | | | | the right equipment for you. You want a camera that |
| Part of the joy in shopping for a new electronic gadget | | | | feels good in your hands. You want a camera where |
| (or any product), is learning something about the | | | | the controls feel intutitive, and the menu options seem |
| product, and eliminating the unworthy contendors. At | | | | intuitive to you. Nothing should seem forced. Find a |
| least it is for me. Plus, when it comes to some with a | | | | good online site with lots of cameras to choose from, |
| more technical bent (like digital cameras), those little | | | | order two or three, and have them delivered to your |
| nuggets you learn in the shopping process, are sure to | | | | home. Then, with no sales pressure, you can try them |
| be beneficial down the road, when your actually using | | | | out in a variety of different settings. Take pictures with |
| your camera. | | | | all of them indoors, outdoors, in bright light, at night, |
| The thing about digital cameras, and photography, is | | | | during sunset and sunrise. Take at least a hundred |
| you never stop learning about them. At least not if you | | | | pictures on each camera. By then, you will know which |
| want to. I like the analogy about sailing I heard a few | | | | is the perfect camera for you. Keep the best, return |
| years ago, when I was first thinking about buying a | | | | the rest, and enjoy a lifetime of taking great pictures. |